AN ACT to amend and reenact §51-8-8 of the Code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, relating to county law libraries operated by
the Supreme Court of Appeals and circuit courts; providing
that circuit courts may no longer establish county law
libraries; and providing that the Supreme Court of Appeals
alone shall determine the appropriate number thereof.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That §51-8-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

ARTICLE 8. STATE AND COUNTY LAW LIBRARIES; LAW CLERKS.

§51-8-8. Authority to establish county law libraries; under
control of circuit judge; rules.

The Supreme Court of Appeals may establish county law
libraries which once established, are wholly under the management
of the circuit judge, with the assistance of the circuit clerk.
The Supreme Court of Appeals may determine the appropriate number
of law libraries that will be in operation as well as the location
of the libraries and may expend funds for the purchase of books or
other expenses necessary for the operation of the county law
libraries.

All county law libraries in operation shall be kept current
and the cost of the libraries, other than for provision of adequate
space, shall be borne by the state and paid from the judicial
branch appropriation. The county libraries shall be available for
use by the public subject to reasonable rules as may be adopted by
the circuit judge. County commissions shall provide adequate space
for the county libraries.